Mahonia plant named &#39;sPg-15-1&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Mahonia hybrida  plant is provided that forms attractive dark green spiny foliage. Yellow flowers are formed in the spring extending into the summer with reblooming again in about August through frost. The growth habit is upright, and the plant has been found to be hardy in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone No. 7 during observations to date. The plant is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

Botanical/commercial classification: Mahonia hybida/Mahonia Plant cv.sPg-15-1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar of the present invention was created in Japan during2000 at the residence of the inventor in a cultivated area tended byman. Unknown Mahonia plants were crossed. The seeds resulting from thepollination were sown and small plants were obtained which werephysically and biologically different from each other. Selective studyresults in the identification of a single plant of the new cultivar.

It was found that the new Mahonia plant of the present invention

-   -   (a) exhibits an upright growth habit,    -   (b) forms attractive narrow dark green spiny foliage,    -   (c) commonly forms yellow flowers in the spring extending into        the summer and reblooms again in about August through frost, and    -   (d) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the        landscape.

The new cultivar can be grown to advantage as attractive ornamentationin parks, gardens, and residential settings. The plant has been found tobe hardy in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone No. 7 during observations to date.The further evaluation of hardiness is underway.

The new cultivar can be readily distinguished from previously knownMahonia cultivars, including ‘Narihira’ cultivar (non-patented) and the‘Winter Sun’ cultivar (non-patented). More specifically, the foliage ofthe new cultivar is spinier and stiffer than that of the ‘Narihira’cultivar, and the leaves are of a lesser width than that of the ‘WinterSun’ cultivar.

The new cultivar has been found near Hickory, N.C., U.S.A., to reliablyundergo asexual propagation from one generation to another by therooting of softwood stem cuttings. Accordingly, the new cultivarundergoes asexual propagation in a true-to-type manner.

When propagated by the use of softwood stem cuttings in early summer,rooting commonly is initiated in approximately two weeks, and a fullyrooted finished plants commonly are produced in approximately eightweeks.

The new cultivar has been named ‘sPg-15-1’, and will be marketed underthe BEIJING BEAUTY Trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows, as nearly true as is reasonablypossible, a typical flowering plant of the new cultivar in which thefoliage and inflorescence are shown in detail. The illustrated plant wasapproximately eighteen months of age and was growing outdoors duringSeptember 2014 near Hickory, N.C., U.S.A.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart—1995) except where generalcolor terms are to be accorded their ordinary color significance.

-   Botanical classification: Mahonia hybrida.-   Plant: Evergreen Shrub.    -   -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Growth rate.—Typical and average.        -   Height.—Approximately 1.2 to 1.5 m on average.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.9 to 1.2 m on average.        -   Roots.—Fibrous network and generally yellow in coloration.-   Branches:    -   -   Shape.—Substantially round.        -   Length.—Commonly approximately 12 cm on average.        -   Diameter.—Commonly approximately 1 cm on average.        -   Color.—Near Greyed-Brown Group 199A.        -   Texture.—Somewhat rough.        -   Branch angle.—Approximately 20 degrees.        -   Internode length.—Somewhat irregular, and commonly 2.5 to 4            cm on average.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Lanceolate, imparipinnate (odd pinnate).        -   Leaf arrangement.—In whorls with opposite leaflets.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaf margins.—Spiny, serrate with approximately ten            serrations per side.        -   Leaf length.—Commonly approximately 10 cm on average for            upper leaves and approximately 8 cm on average for lower            leaves.        -   Leaf width.—Commonly approximately 1.5 cm on average at the            base and approximately 5 mm on average at the apex.        -   Leaf texture.—Glabrous on upper and lower surfaces, and            lustrous on the upper surface.        -   Leaf color.—Near Green Group 139A on the upper surface and            near Yellow-Green Group 146B on the under surface.        -   Fragrance.—None noticeable.        -   Petioles.—Length: approximately 7.5 cm on average. width:            approximately 2 mm on average. texture: glabrous. color:            near Green Group 138A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Time.—Commonly commences in the spring (e.g. in about April)            extending into the summer with reblooming again in            approximately August through frost.        -   Arrangement.—Fascicles of racemes arranged in whorls with            approximately 5 racemes per whorl on average emerging above            leaf whorls above the new foliage growth for the duration of            flowering with racemes open from bottom towards the apex and            tightly packed, and with approximately 15 flowers per            raceme.        -   Type.—Perfect and cup-shaped.        -   Buds.—Shape: globose. — length: approximately 3 mm on            average. — diameter: approximately 3 mm on average. — color:            near Yellow-Green Group 145A commonly changing to near            Yellow-Green Group 154C prior to opening.        -   Flower aspect.—Outwardly facing on raceme with racemes            commonly held at an approximately 30 to 40 degree angle from            the stem.        -   Flower diameter.—Commonly approximately 6 mm on average.        -   Flower depth.—Commonly approximately 4 mm on average.        -   Raceme size.—Commonly approximately 2.5 cm in length and            approximately 1 cm in diameter.        -   Petals.—Number: six arranged in two whorls of three petals.            — shape: obovate and unfused. — length: approximately 5 mm            on average. — width: approximately 3 mm on average. — apex:            rounded to acute. — base: rounded to acute. — margin:            entire. — color: near Yellow Group 11A.        -   Gynoecium.—Number: one pistil. — stigma: approximately 1 mm            in length on average, approximately 1 mm in width on            average, and near Yellow Group 11A in coloration. — ovary:            approximately 1 mm in length on average, approximately 1 mm            in width on average, and near Yellow-Green Group 145A in            coloration.        -   Andrococeium.—Number: six stamen. — anthers: approximately            0.5 mm in length on average, approximately 1 mm in width on            average, and near Yellow Group 11A in coloration.        -   Filaments.—Approximately 2 mm in length on average,            approximately 1 mm in width on average and near Yellow Group            11A in coloration.        -   Fruit and seeds.—None observed to date.        -   Peduncle.—Length: approximately 3 mm on average. width:            approximately 1 mm on average. — color: new Yellow-Green            Group 144B. — length: approximately 3 mm on average. —            width: approximately 1 mm on average. — color: near            Yellow-Green Group 144B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: approximately 3 mm on average. — width:            approximately 1 mm on average. — color: near Yellow-Green            Group 144B.        -   Calyx.—Commonly provided in two whorls of 3 petaloid sepals.        -   Sepals.—Number: three. length: approximately 3 mm on            average. width: approximately 2.5 mm on average. — shape:            obovate. — apex: rounded to acute. — base: rounded to acute.            — texture: glabrous. — margin: entire. — color: near Yellow            Group 11A on upper and lower surfaces.-   The new .‘sPg-15-1’ cultivar has not been observed under all    possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is    possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with    changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and    other environmental conditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Mahonia hybrida plant characterized bythe following characteristics: (a) exhibits an upright growth habit, (b)forms attractive narrow deep green spiny foliage, (c) commonly formsyellow flowers in the spring extending into the summer and rebloomsagain in about August through frost, and (d) is well suited forproviding attractive ornamentation in the landscape; substantially asillustrated and described.